I'm technically proficient

...despite certain attitude issues

After three hellish days in detox, Abby is finally feeling well enough, relatively speaking, to settle into a routine of sorts at the inpatient rehab center she's checked herself into. Throughout the detox process, throughout the tremors, nausea, debilitating headaches, and insomnia, all she's thought of (other than having a drink) is Lee and Lily. She's cried more than she'd ever admit, missing her husband and daughter and home almost to the point that she feels it physically. She almost regrets saying she needs to do this alone, but knows she'd never be able to do it if this wasn't her decision and hers alone.

But she still needs them. More than she's ever admitted to herself before. She takes a shower, subconsciously wanting to be fresh and clean for her first allowed phonecall after a successful completion of the detox process. She makes her way from her room to the main floor where she waits, impatiently, for her allotted time slot to begin.

When she finally gets on the phone, she freezes for a moment, her fingers forgetting what to do, what numbers to dial. When she shakes herself and dials the familiar numbers of Lee's phone, she can feel her heart banging around in her chest. What can he think of her now? Maybe he won't even want to talk to her. Maybe he's relieved to be rid of her and the mess she's made of her life. She wouldn't blame him, and she can feel her palms sweating as she listens to the phone ring.

She's stunned by the word that comes out of her daughter's mouth, but thinks she must have misheard; there's no way she said Mommy, no way Lee would let her use that word for anyone else. She speaks carefully, evenly. What did she say?

He furrows his brow as he thinks about what she's saying, not understanding what she expects with all the time she's spent away from Lily in recent months. He's tempted to tell her that's her fault for not letting them come with her to Texas, for not staying sober and needing to be in rehab but he doesn't. It won't make anything better.